J. Hamilton to H.S. Fox, May 20, 1839

Summary: Hamilton wrote to Fox outlining why Great Britain should mediate in the struggle between Texas and Mexico. He gave four main reasons: 1. Texas was preparing to blockade Vera Cruz and if Britain tried to stop it they might alienate the South; 2. Britain would benefit greatly from Texas trade, especially in Texas cotton; 3. It would be awkward for Britain to recognize Texas before Mexico does, and until then Texas might conduct all its trade with France; 4. By ending the conflict Britain could get Texas support in ending the slave trade. Hamilton also pointed out the mineral riches of Texas, the fact that they were descendants of Anglo-Saxons, and that Texas was even willing to negotiate accepting a border on the Nueces River to satisfy Mexican bond holders.

WASHINGTON 20th May 1839.

SIR--

In conformity to the wish you did me the honor to express, in our conversation on Saturday last, that I should furnish you with a memorandum in writing of my views in relation to the advantages which might result to Great Britain from the mediatorial offices of Her Britanic Majesty's Minister Mr. Pakenham at Mexico, between that Government and the Republic of Texas, (however private and unofficially) induces me to submit the following succin[c]t statement with a candor and sincerity, I hope equal to the signal kindness and frankness with which you received my Verbal Communications. You are aware that the Republic of Texas has appointed Col. Bee a citizen of Texas an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico, to treat with that Government for peace and Recog-

nition. He sailed about the 1st May for Vera Cruz in Governments Vessel of the United States, and has probably some days since arrived off that Port. He went however, beyond that of a passenger under no safe conduct of the flag of the U. S. but in some degree under that of the late Catholic Bishop of Texas, when he was a Mexican [provincial?] and who is now the Chaplain or Confessor of President Santa Anna, who urged the sending of an Envoy from Texas, the purpose in question, with an earnestness that induced many persons to suppose that it was one of the objects of the recent visit which that Priestate made to Texas, and that he acted in conformity to the wishes of Gen. Santa Anna. Be this however as it may, whilst Col. Bee was detained in New Orleans, an English Gentleman of the name of Forspale, Member of the highly respectable house of the Lazardi's of London (which House you are aware is extensively connected with the trade of Mexico, and holds intimate relations with its Government,) informed Col. Bee, that he had determined in conjunction with several other persons, having a deep interest in the peace and prosperity of Mexico, to write, not only to the Government of Mexico, to listen favorably to the overtures on the part of Texas for peace, but at the same time to address Mr Pakenham a letter earnestly soliciting his good offices immediately between the parties, as he believed the only means by which the Mexican Bond and Share holders would be paid, would be through the indemnity which Texas might be willing to give Mexico, for the disputed territory between the Rio de la Nueces and the Rio del Norte, where it is supposed the point of honor might be saved to Mexico, in treating for a general pacification and Recognition of the Independence of Texas. This at least, might be urged at the present, for such a convention.

You are aware that I have been appointed a commissioner to negotiate a loan of about a Million Sterling for Texas. I propose embarking in the Great Western for England in June, from the manner in which I have strengthened my loan in this country, I have very little doubt of my success in yours. If the Minister of Texas should conclude a Treaty with Mexico, authorizing the former to pay over the amount of the indemnity to the holders of the Mexican Securities in England, nothing could be more gratifying to me, than to promote this object by every means in my power, as it would add another wreath to the glory of the descendants of the Saxon race, that after beating Mexico, despoiling her of one of the finest of her provinces, that a handfull of men should come under an obligation to pay her debts on change in London. Should however Mr Pakenham sue his good offices in this matter, he will doubtless perceive the policy of keeping out of view of the Ulterior appropriation of the money, until

the main and Substantive object of the treaty is secured. That Great Britain has a direct interest in our immediate pacification between Texas and Mexico, and the ultimate independence of the former, is manifest, from two or three very obvious considerations. In the first place Texas early in the ensuing autumn, will have at Galveston a Squadron of one Steam Frigate, one Corvette, two Brigs, Three Schooners, ready to take post off Vera Cruz, and blockade that Port by the procuring of adequate force. This may give rise to a very serious difficulty, as your Government has not internationally recognized Texas. She may not feel disposed to respect any blockade of which She may even make an authentic declaration. She may therefore force the blockade. Bloodshed may ensue, and which from the intimate relations of the Southern people, with the people of Texas, would throw the whole South into a ferment, and we should find ourselves, in spite of our deep interest in the preservation of perpetual peace with Great Britain, in the very unnatural position of allies with the people on your Canada frontier, in their seemingly inplacable hostility to your country.

In the Second place, your Government has a deep interest in a pacification between Texas and Mexico, because She has an incalculable interest in the trade of Texas, destined to be an immense consumer of the products and Manufactures of Great Britain. Her tariff is now only 12 1/2 per cent, advalorem, whilst that of the U.S. averages nearly forty per cent. You perceive that the moment the Independence of Texas is recognized, She will not only supply her immeasurably increasing population with British goods, but likewise both the adjoining provinces of Mexico, and a large portion of the Valley of the Mississippi, through the navigation of the Trinity and Sabine Rivers. I will say nothing of the vast advantages, because they must strike you with great force. If Great Britain having her supply of Cotton insured to her from the fertile plains of Texas (destined to be the greatest cotton country in the world) exempt from the caprice of your relations with the United States. In the third place, without Mexico should first recognize the Independence of Texas, Great Britain, from the great delicacy of her situation, in reference to her own North American provinces, might feel great difficulty in recognizing Texas herself, which might have a tendency to throw her whole European commerce in the hands of France. The moment Mexico recognizes, all difficulty is at once obviated, and Great Britain may herself recognize.

Fourthly and lastly--The moment England is thus enabled to recognize Texas, She can exercise through the immence value of her commerce with Texas, salutary influence in procuring the cordial concurrence of Texas, in what Great Britain has ten times at heart,

in the suppression of the Slave trade, which Texas has prohibited by a fundamental article in her Constitution. I had the honor to State to your Excellency in conversation the incalculable natural resources of Texas. She possesses at least fifty Millions of Acres River bottom land, better adapted to the cultivation of upland cotton than any other part of the habitable Globe, without interfering with the reservation of those immense prairies which are destined to afford pasturage and substance to flocks and herds, more numerous, than we read of in the records [of] Scriptural antiquity.

Her mineral riches not to speak of the (indications presented in her mountains of the precious metals) are countless, when you take these things into consideration and reflect that in all probability not a spindle will be made for half a century within her limits you may well conjecture what an impulse her commerce will give to power looms, of your own Country. Besides these people are your own blood and kindred, and speak the same language in which Locke and Milton taught the lessons [of] civil and political science. I am aware from the fact of Texas not having been recognized by your Government, you can make no official communication on the subject to Mr. Pakenham, to which I have ventured to call your attention or either Lord Palmerston, it will be for you to decide, whether in the conjecture of the affairs both of Texas and Mexico, when the former is rising with a rapidly and augmenting strength to power and independence of the latter, sinking under the strife and contending faction, a private suggestion to both, in favor of a timely mediation between the parties, may not be of some value to your own Government. I beg you to pardon the entire [illegible word] of this communication and to be assured of the distinguished consideration, with which I have the honor, Very Respectfully--Your Obedient Servant

(Signed) J. HAMILTON

His Excellency

H.S. Fox

Minister Plenipotentiary of

Her Britanic Majesty at Washington

Source Copy Consulted: J. Hamilton to H.S. Fox, May 20, 1839, George Garrison, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the Republic of Texas, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1908, (Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1911), 3 vols., 3: 867-870